Automatic packaging machine



June 23, 1970 M1 MAUUM ET AL AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Nov. 13, 1967 mm O E w r m Mt 0 E o n 0| 8 CZ u N An N .I W itmm M \ID a Y B June 23, 1970 M, MAuLlNl ETAL AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINE5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 15*, 1967 FRANCO AlUOLA NAURU-IO MAU LINKAgent June 23, 1970 ET 3,516,336

AUTOMAT I C PACKAG ING MACHINE Filed Nov. 13, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 3FRANCO AlUOLA MAumzw MAULIW INVENT OR 5 BY E il fig Agent June 23, 1970MAUL|N| ETAL AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed NOV. 15, 1967 FRANCO AIUOLA MAURIZIO MAUUN INVENTORJ Agent June23, 1970 MAULlNI EI'AL 3,516,336

AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINE Filed NOV. 15, 1967 0 Sheets-Sheet b FRANCOAIUOL MAURIZIO MAULlr INVENTORS BY M Aent

United States Patent O 3,516,336 AUTOMATIC PACKAGING MACHINE MaurizioMaulini and Franco Aiuola, Milan, Italy (both A.C.M.A. AzionariaCostruzioni Macchine Automatiche S.p.A., Via Fioravanti 27, Bologna,Italy) Filed Nov. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 682,003 Claims priority,application Italy, Dec. 3, 1966, 24 762/66 Int. Cl. B31b 11/74, 1/36;B65b 43/26 US. Cl. 9336.01 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to product packagingmachines in general. More precisely it relates to an automatic apparatuswhich operates on lined box-like packets or cartons of known type,particularly of impermeable lining, so as to effect, before an inletstation the closure of the bottom flap of said packets and, downstreamof said inlet station, the closure of the other flap or top flap.

There already exist containers or cartons, especially for liquid, paste,hygroscopic products and the like, which comprise a first externalstiffening envelope, such as cardboard, punched and creased in mannersuch that limiting zones are formed, designed to constitute faces orlateral walls of preferably rectangular outline and at the opposite endsof said lateral walls, flaps which, folded, are capable of forming thebottom and top lids of the finished container. Inside said firstexternal envelope a tubular member of substantially flexible andimpermeable material is then provided. Said tubular member extendsbeyond both ends of said lateral walls and its ends may be closed by theend flaps of the external envelope.

The structure of said containers, provided with rectangular lateralwalls and end flaps, renders them of more advantageous use than otherknown containers which are obtained by unwinding a tubular member ofstiffening and waterproof material from a roll and effecting, incombination with the filling the squeezing, the sealing and the cuttingof the said tubular member. A packaging is thus achieved of tetrahedralform and with greatly reduced rigidity and hermetic sealingcharacteristics as well as greatly reduced stacking potential.

However, despite their superior qualities, double-walled containers haveuntil now been subject to limitations due to difliculties in the closureof the end flaps. Automatic machines are known, in which the box-likeconstructions, fed in their tubular condition, are carried, with uniformmotion and suitably spaced from one another, by a conveyer belt througha plurality of stations which effect the closure of an end of theconstruction or packet and the filling and closure of the other end.However said known machines operate on single enveloped packets.

The main object of this invention is that of obviating such difficultiesand removing said inconveniences by providing an apparatus which willeffect the folding, the closure and the sealing of the various parts atthe ends or heads of said double-walled packets or cartons advancing3,516,336 Patented June 23, 1970 with uniform motion, in manner such asto effect a stable and effective seal.

Another object of this invention is that said apparatus be capable offollowing and accompanying, during the operative phase, the packets incontinuous motion, avoiding the use of members with complex movementsand the inconveniences derived from the latter.

A further object of this invention is that of providing an apparatus ofstructure such that it may be adapted, according to needs, to operate onpackets of different dimensions.

A further object of this invention is that of providing an apparatus ofsimple structure, easy actuation and sure use and working which is alsoapplicable to packaging lines with different conveying tracks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects, which will betterappear hereinafter, are achieved by an automatic apparatus according tothe invention, for closing one end of box-like cartons provided with aninner flexible envelope and an external stiffening envelope and foldableend flaps in said external envelope, comprising a supporting framedefining a feeding path for said box-like packets, supplying andtransfer means for said cartons, and, successively arranged along thesaid feeding path, a first unit including tensioning members forspreading said end of said inner envelope in the feeding direction ofsaid transfer means, a second unit for heat sealing said one end of saidinner envelope, and a third unit for folding up said end flaps of saidexternal envelope.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Further characteristics and advantagesof the invention will appear more clearly from the following detaileddescription of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the apparatusaccording to the invention, illustrated by way of example, and notintended to have a limiting meaning, in the accompanping drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective and partly sectioned view, one of thesaid double-enveloped packets or containers;

FIG. 2 shows, in a perspective and partly sectioned view, the inletstation of an automatic packaging machine;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 respectively show, in elevation and diagrammatically, asetting unit of the apparatus and, in corresponding perspective andpartially sectioned views, a sealing and correlated folding unit of theapparatus;

FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 diagrammatically show the phases of the foldingof the bottom head of a packet, and

FIG. 11 shows, in a perspective view, a three-armed lever assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIG. 1 thecontainer or packet, generally indicated by reference numeral 1 andillustrated in tubular prismatic shape, comprises an external stiffeningenvelope 1a obtained from a piece of material, preferably cardboard,punched and creased, which defines a lateral surface with rectangularfaces and closed along one edge.

On the longitudinal extension of said rectangular faces, at the ends ofsaid case 1, are defined, on opposite sides, side-flaps 2 and flaps 3and 4. The flaps 3 are shorter in length than the flaps 4 which aresufficiently long to cover all the opening of the tubular packet 1. Saidside-flaps and flaps are designed, during the folding along creasedfolding or score lines, to close the openings of the opposite ends ofthe said packet.

Inside the stiffening envelope 1a a second envelope is placed. Saidsecond envelope is constituted of a tubular member of flexible sheetmaterial united along a zone 5a by means of the superimposition of anedge and the folding of the edge according to a double union.

The tubular member 5 is rendered internally impermeable, moreparticularly by the presence or coating of a film of suitable plasticsmaterial.

The longitudinal development of said tubular member 5 is such as toextend beyond the ends of the packet, substantially to the level of saidside-flaps 2. The envelope 5 is substantially attached to all thelateral surfaces 1a by means of the interposition of adhesive materialalong the zones 6. The said flaps 3 are completely united to theenvelope 5, while the side-flaps 2 are centrally united to the latteralong a triangular adhesive zone 6. The flaps 3 have Zones 3a laterallydepressed with respect to a central triangular zone, in order to cause,in the folding of the flaps, the side-flaps and the internal envelope,the leveling of the lid flaps on the superimposed previously foldedflaps.

From FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 it may be seen that the automatic packagingmachine, comprising the apparatus according to the invention, includes aconveyer belt 7. Said conveyer belt 7 is wound on relative pulleys (notshown in the drawings), the driving pulley being actuated with uniformmotion.

As best visible in FIGS. 2 and 4, the belt member 7 has its generatrixextending in a vertical direction and has a rectilinear strand portion(FIG. 4) and an arcuated portion (FIG. 2) wound on the respectivepulley.

At the external surface of said belt 7 are arranged suitably spacedapart blocks 8. Said blocks being positioned by screw means 8a. Saidblocks 8 define interposed open housings or packets. On the two lateralplane surface sides of said blocks 8 horizontal slots 8b are provided.Within said slots 8b respective horizontally movable tangs or fins 9 arepivoted at vertical pivots 9a, said tangs are biased by springs 10mounted on guide pins. The said tangs protrude from the side of saidblocks 8 and are maintained in contact with the conveyer belt 7. In suchmanner, when the belt 7 is wound on its respective pulleys, assuming acurved form, the rear external corner of each tang touches the belt and,due to the respective spring 10 the tang following the profile of thebelt rotates and laterally protrudes from the respective slot 811. Saidtangs however remain within the respective slots when the belt 7 isrectilinear.

The tangs or fins have a rear edge permanently in contact with the beltmember 7.

During the feeding the packets 1 are housed vertically and flattened(see FIG. 2) inside a magazine delimited by members 11a, :11b, and 110at the sides and the bottom respectively. Since the direction ofadvancement of the said belt 7 is in the direction of the arrow A of thedrawings, the exit of the packets is almost tangential to the branch ofthe belt leaving a pulley. Before and above the said magazine ispositioned a senser element 12 constituted of a horizontal plate shapedbody which may be considered rigid. Said senser element 12 maintains therow of packets 1 flattened, and holds them in position urging theuppermost flap 4 of the first packet of the row in a direction away fromthe belt 7 and releasing it by virtue of the flexion of the row, whenthe assembly of packets is pushed by the plate 11a advancing stepwise.

On an upright 13, at the side of and downstream from said magazine, aremounted pick-up feeding suckers 14, which communicate through theupright itself and a pipe union 13a, with suction means (not shown). Thesaid upright 13 has a base member 1312 which is pivoted in and caused tooscillate by known means (not shown). Shaped members 16, provided at theexit of the magazine and above the said conveyer belt 7, cooperate withthe packet removed by the said suckers 14 for the positioning of saidremoved packet between the blocks 8. To this purpose is provided ashaped pusher 17, positioned on an upright 17a, which is subjected toreciprocating motion by a slider 18, guided in 18a and forming part of acrank mechanism not shown. The shaped member ;16, during the removal ofthe packet, tends, with its tooth, to maintain the flap 4 separated fromthe flap 3. The packet is thus arranged inside a housing, assuming thetubular shape and helped in this by the member 16a which aids thepositioning of the carton envelope between two contiguous blocks 8. Theends of the carton project beyond the upper and lower sections of theblocks 8. Guiding and retaining members 19 act on the free face of thecarton 1; said members 19 are secured to the framework of the machineand are situated in manner such as to continue the action of the arcuatepusher 17.

To the said framework of the machine is also fixed a profiled part 20which is of shape such as to be substantially parallel to the belt 7 andwhose upstream end is higher than its other end. Said member 20 engagesthe lower flap 4 and causes it to project externally with respect to thebody of the carton 1. During transport the cartons pass through thefirst unit of the apparatus which effects the closure and the sealing ofthe lower end. Said first unit (see FIG. 3) is constituted of a firstgroup, generally indicated with 21. Said group 21 below the conveyorbelt 7 and lying in the plane of advancement of the packets, comprisesflexible ring means 22 (indicated with dots and dashes). Said means 22are preferably constituted of a chain wound on driving and drivenpulleys (not shown), with central axles passing through 23.

The upper branch of said chain 22 is substantially parallel to the pathof the belt 7 and moves along, as indicated by the arrow B, with atranslational speed equal to that of the belt 7 itself. Along the chain22 are positioned, uniformly distributed, a plurality of pairs of armmembers 24 and 25. The member 24 is formed of an essentially L-shapedsheet whose arm (nearest the chain) terminates in an enlarged tailsection 24a. The member 24 is pivoted in 24b to a block 26 mounted onthe chain, and is subjected to the action of a torsional spring 27, oneend of which is secured to the said block 26, the other end beingsecured to the member 24 itself, so that the said arm with the tailsection 24a is arranged to intersect the path of the chain. The member25 is formed of a similar sheet member with a substantially hook-shapedform and with concavity reversed with respect to the chain. Said member25 is fulcrumed in 25a to a block 28 mounted on the chain. In a slot 25bof said member 25 is engaged a pin 29a of an arm 29 of a three-armedlever 30 (see FIG. 11). Said three-armed lever 30 is pivoted in 30a to ablock31 secured to the chain. The lower arm 32 of said lever 30 is urgedtowards the block 26 by spring biased means 33. The third arm 34 of saidlever 30 carries a roller 35a which engages in a continuous grooved cam35b defining a closed run partly internal and partly (specifically alongthe upper strand of the chain) external to the chain itself. The groovedcam 35b is mounted on the framework. A sliding cam 36 is provided for acertain section between the chain 22 and the grooved cam 35b. Said camhas an engagement front 3611 with the said tail section 24a.

As may be seen in FIG. 3, the members 24 and 25 entrained by the chain22 along the run of the respective cams 36 and 3512 are arrangedprogressively in manner such that, in the section of the chain near thebelt 7, they penetrate inside the mouth 5b of a flexible envelope ortubular member 5, which moves with the same speed as the belt 7. Theydiverge in the direction of advance thereby opening, stretching andconsequently bringing together the margins 5b of the envelope 5 at thecenter plane of the carton. This operation is facilitated by the specialglue with which the flexible envelope is stuck on the side-flaps 2.

As the advance of the said margins 51) continues they are intercepted bymembers of an assembly generally indicated at 37 (see FIG. 4). Themargins 5b are then released by the pairs of blades or members 24 and25. The assembly 37 comprises two members 38 facing and delimiting,according to the plane of advancement, a gap 38a. Beyond the members 38are positioned a pair of pressure rollers 39 with vertical rotationshafts. Said rollers 39 have spring biased means for a pressurecoupling. The rollers 39 delimit with the successive members a passagelane 40 for the margins 5b, while, since the upper faces of such membersare horizontal and co-planar, the flaps 4 and the side-flaps 2 of theadvancing carton are supported and maintained open externally, theopening action thereof having been determined by said shaped member 20and by the members 38. Continuing along the line of advancement thereare provided two heating plates 41 for the thermo-sealing of the saidmargins 5b. More particularly said plates 41 incorporate along theboundaries delimiting the lane 40, electrical resistances, connectedthrough the connections 41a to the current supply line. Said plates 41,as well as successive tangential rollers 42, are supported by theframework (not shown). Said rollers 42 are revolvingly mounted on saidframework and provided with cooling axial through holes and stronglycompress the margins 512, also effecting a precooling of the margins.The cooling is completed by successive counterposed plates 43 which areprovided, along the edges delimiting the lane or channel 40, withlongitudinal grooving communicataing through pipe unions 43a With an airsupply source (not shown). A complete closure of the margins 5b is thusobtained.

At the plates 43 the flaps 4 of a carton are supported open by means offixed rods 44. The section of the flap 2 corresponding to the lateralsurface 1a is inserted between the two innermost of the rods 44, whilethe outermost of the rods laterally supports, at the lowest level of theinner rods, the flap 4. The said rods 44 extend to discs 45 which aremounted on a rotatable shaft 45a and which draw glue from a roller 46.Said roller 46 rotates partially within a glue tank 47. The verticaldiscs 45 correspondingly transport the glue to the application face ofthe flap 4, to the closed bottom of the tubular envelope 5 and to thelower face of the flap 3.

On the extension of the rods 44 are provided, with suitably inclinedplanes, members 48a, 48b and 480. The upper internal rod 48a and thelower external rod 480 support the lower flap 4 open, While the shapedmember 48b gradually twists, its end distant from said rods 44 beinghigher than its other end, and is almost horizontal in a plane nearestthe conveyer belt 7 in order to effect the folding of the margins (FIG.3) on the flap 3. An extended upper member 49, supported by the fixedframework of the machine and parallel to the run of the belt 7, isprovided with a longitudinal downwardly opened channel to house the flap4 of the upper end of the packet, in manner such as to maintain thelatter open until, once the closure of the lower end of the packet andthe transfer of the latter to the filling station has been completed,the closure of the upper end of the packet at a second unit of theapparatus commences.

Before reaching a filling station (not shown), the packet enter afurther assembly of the apparatus (see FIG. 5) which comprises, alongthe plane of advancement, an oscillating member or pawl 50 mounted on ashaft 51 Said shaft 51 is rotatably mounted on the fixed framework ofthe machine and is connected to a suitable transmission system,partially represented and indicated by reference numeral 52. The pawl 50is normally vertical to engage the downstream side of the flap 2, afterwhich, during the righthand rotation, it folds said flap and supports itfor application to the base of the carton.

The carton then passes to a third group, generally indicated byreference numeral 53, which comprises a boxlike framework 54 having anaperture 54a on the side facing the conveyer belt 7. Inside saidframework 54 is positioned a scaffold mounting 56 having a plate 55externally guided at said aperture 54a and joined on the bounding planeof the latter. The height of said scaffold mounting 56 is adjustable bymeans of a vertical screw 57 screwed in the latter. The upper end of thescrew 57 passes through the framework 54 and terminates in an actuationhandwheel 57a rotatably associated with a ring nut 58 secured to theframework 54. A shaft 59 is coupled to the framework 54 and is actuatedthrough a toothed wheel 60. A sleeve 61 with a conical pinion 61b isprismatically engaged to the shaft 59 by means of a key 61a. The sleeve61 is rotatably connected, by means of an interposed bush 62, to thescaffold 56 and follows the vertical movements of the latter since thebush is contained between a ledge 61c and a removable stop 63, formed ofan extensible ring. A shaft 65 is rotatably connected to the scaffoldmounting 56 by interposed su port means 64. A conical pinion 66 is keyedon the shaft 65 and is in mesh with said conical pinion 61b and a cogWheel 67. The edges of a cowling 69 are freely engaged in an aperture 68of said plate 55 (for clarity of representation--see FIG. S-the cowlinghas been shown separated into two parts, one displaced from the other).Screw means 69a pass through slots 70 on the margins of the cowling;said slots 70 have arcuate shape with the arc centre on the axis of theshaft 65. The said screws 69a serve to secure the cowling 69 to a plate55 according to the desired angular position with respect to the shaft65. Said cowling 69 is mounted on the shaft 65 by interposed means 71.On the end of the shaft 65 projecting from the cowling and distant fromthe shaft 59 a discoid member 72 is keyed. Said discoid member 72 issubstantially composed of a centrally inter-connected pair of discs.Said discs are correspondingly provided with peripherally open shapedslots 72a. Upstream with respect to the shaft 65 a shaft 73 is coupledto the cowling 69. On said shaft 73 is mounted a toothed wheel 74meshing with the cog wheel 67 and a cog wheel 75; cog wheel 75 mesheswith a cog wheel 76 mounted on a shaft 77. The shaft 77 exits from thecowling 69, through an arcuate aperture 78 with the arc centre on theaxis of the shaft 73, and is connected, by interposed means 79 to aplate 80. The plate 80 is connected, in suitable angular positionrelative to said shaft 73, to the cowling 69 by screw means inserted insuitable arcuate slots 80a. Externally to said cowling 69 on the shaft77 is keyed a second discoid member 81 (similar to the first discoidmember 72) with a slot 81a which slides in the plane of advancement.Both discoid members 72 and 81 are almost parallel to the plane of thelower base of the advancing carton and co-act with one another as shownin FIGS. 6 to 10. By suitable phasing of said discs the side-flap 2engages inside the slot 81a and is transferred in manner such as to beheld inside the slot 72a, when the member 72 supports said sidefiap forapplication to the base of the packet.

A shaped section 82, which twists and follows the run of the conveyerbelt 7, is provided for the successive closure of the flap 4.

The working of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the inventionis clear from the detailed description.

The invention as thus conceived is capable of numerous modifications andvariations all lying within the ambit of the invention as describedabove and claimed below. Thus, for example, the part 82 may be providedto preceed the group 53, for the closure first of the flap 4 then of theside-flap 2. Moreover all the details may be replaced by othertechnically equivalent members.

We claim:

1. An automatic apparatus for closing one end of boxlike cartons havingan inner flexible envelope with at least one open end to be closed andan external stiffening envelope and foldable end flaps in said externalenvelope, comprising a supporting frame defining a feeding path for saidcartons supplying and transfer means for said cartons, and, successivelyarranged along the said feeding path, a first unit including tensioningmechanism for spreading said open end of said inner envelope in thefeeding direction of said transfer means, said tensioning mechanismcomprising an endless chain arranged, at least with a portion thereof,substantially parallel to and below said feeding path, support anddriving means for said endless chain, a plurality of pairs of tensioningmembers mounted in spaced relationship on said endless chain, each pairof tensioning members comprising a first arm projecting from saidendless chain, a support member pivotably carrying said arm and securedto said endless chain, spring means between said arm and said supportmember, a second arm at a distance from said first arm, lever meanssecured to said endless chain and supporting said second arm, andcontrol means for said tensioning members, a second unit for heatsealing said one end of said inner envelope, and a third unit forfolding up said end flaps of said external envelope.

2. An automatic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controlmeans for said tensioning members comprise a first guide element forslidably engaging said first arm, and a second guide groove element forslidably engaging said lever means carrying said second arm.

3. An automatic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said thirdunit for folding up said end flaps of said external envelope includes afirst shaft mounted for rotation, an adjustable framework supportingsaid shaft, a casing adjustable around said shaft, a second shaft drivenby said first shaft and arranged in said casing, a third shaft driven bysaid second sahft, a mounting plate for said third shaft and adjustablyarranged on said casing, first and second disc members on said first andthird shafts in the range of said feeding path of said cartons, a slotin each of said disc members for engaging and folding an end flap of thecarton.

4. An automatic apparatus for closing one end of boxlike cartons havingan inner flexible envelope with at least one open end to be closed andan external stiffening envelope and foldable end flaps in said externalenvelope, comprising a belt conveyor with driving and guiding pulleysand having a flexible belt member with a substantially rectilinearstrand portion and an arcuated portion wound on said pulleys, said beltmember having the generatrix thereof arranged in a vertical direction,block members spaced at regular intervals on the belt member of theconveyor along the entire extension thereof each of said blocks havingopposite upwardly directed plane surfaces extending perpendicular tosaidbelt member and facing at a distance corresponding plane surfaces of thenext subsequent block thereby defining an open pocket therebetween,spring biased fin members in said plane surfaces including spring meansurging said fin members to project from said plane surfaces thereby tohold in position said cartons inserted in the pockets, a carton feedingunit arranged near an arcuated portion of the belt member and adapted toinsert successively a carton in each of said pockets brought by saidbelt conveyor in front of said feeding unit, and successively arrangedalong the rectilinear strand portion of said belt conveyor in the pathof said open ends, a first unit including tensioning members forspreading an open end of said inner envelope in the feeding direction ofsaid belt conveyor, a second unit for heat sealing said end of saidinner envelope, and a third unit for folding up said end flaps of saidexternal envelope.

5. An automatic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said blockmembers have slots in said plane surfaces thereof and extendingperpendicular to said generatrix of the belt member and said fin membershave hinge means with a hinge axis parallel to said generatrix androtatably securing said fin member within said slots, said hinge axisbeing offset with respect to the center line of the respective block,and said fin members having a rear edge extending in the direction ofsaid belt member and having at least one part thereof permanently incontact with said belt member.

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